Oxlade-Chamberlain vows not to take foot off England pedal

Alex Oxlade-chamberlain admits it was always his aim to be in the England squad by the time he reached 21 – but he knows that if he doesn’t deliver, his international career could be over by then.

The Arsenal teenager, still only 18, is now a regular in Roy Hodgson’s senior squad and has won seven caps.

But as he prepares for Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino, he insists he can take nothing for granted.

He told Sport magazine: “I wanted to make sure I was in and around the senior squad by the time I was 21. So for it to happen when I was 18, you know, I was happy with that.

“But the thing with England is you can drop out of it just like that. If you switch off, or your performances with your club don’t merit a squad place, then I don’t think you deserve to be in it.

“If I take my foot off the pedal, I know I might not be back in that squad by the time I am 21.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain has come a long way since making his Premier League debut in August last year. And it’s testament to his character that he can see the positives even among the chastening experience of being thrashed by Manchester United on his Gunners bow.

“To make my debut at Old Trafford was an unbelievable moment,” he added. “Obviously it was difficult after the game, to realise we’d lost 8-2. You never expect that to happen to anyone, let alone Arsenal.

“That was hard to take and it did put a dampener on the occasion, but looking back at it now I wouldn’t change it for the world. I learned a lot that day, so soon in my Arsenal career. I think we all did.”

You can read the full interview with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in this week’s Sport Magazine. Available on Friday, or download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand.

Head to YouTube.com/EASPORTSfootball for highlights of the #FIFA13CelebCup, including Joe Hart, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and The Enemy battling it out. EA SPORTS FIFA 13 is out now on all formats.

If you switch off, or your performances with your club don’t merit a squad place, then I don’t think you deserve to be in it